10 Benefits of LED Lighting

[4.5 Minute Read]

It’s time to say goodbye to fluorescent, halogen, and incandescent bulbs. LED lighting is taking over and it’s here to stay, and rightfully so. By 2030, the DOE estimates that LED Lighting could save 190 terawatts of electricity per year, that’s worth more than $15 billion in savings! Other LED benefits include longer lifespans, less maintenance, and more.

Below we’ll go over 10 benefits of LED lighting that all lead to a brighter tomorrow.

1. Energy Efficient

You know that giant electric bill you’re paying every month? Where is it even going? Well, according to the graph belowfrom the US Energy Information Administration, about 39% of it goes towards lighting. If you want to improve your building’s energy usage and reduce your expenses, you’ll need to find a way to trim the biggest culprit. Luckily, LED bulbs consume 80-90% less power than conventional bulbs, which means they’re better for your wallet and the environment.

2. Durable

LED bulbs are a type of Solid-State Lighting (SSL), meaning they are made of solid material with no filament or bulb to break. Because of this, they are not affected by vibrations or movement. This makes them an excellent choice for harsher environments like construction sites, warehouses, shipping yards, and manufacturing facilities.

3. Longer Lifespan

LED lights can last 60,000+ hours if they’re correctly engineered. So if they’re on for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, they could potentially last for 14 years. That’s 50x longer than an incandescent, 25x longer than a halogen, and 10x longer than a CFL. This longer lifespan comes with a whole slew of hidden benefits. Over the years, you won’t have to buy as many bulbs, you don’t have to have someone waste time and resources replacing those bulbs, and you get the cost savings from it all.

4. Instant Lighting

LEDs illuminate immediately and require no warm-up period. This makes them an excellent fit for motion sensors (more hidden energy savings) and outdoor applications. It also means you don’t have to leave the lights on, flip them on and off all day long and get the same level of brightness!

In addition to consuming less energy, LED bulbs don’t contain mercury or other hazardous substances. So when you’re done with them, they can be thrown in the trash (but we highly recommend that you still recycle them!). Less toxic material in landfills is always a win for the environment.

6. Additional Controls

LEDs offer far more control than traditional light bulbs. They can be dimmed, their color can be changed, and they can be turned on/off without shortening their lifecycle. The capabilities can easily be kicked up a notch with the addition of a couple of switches and sensors, transforming your LED bulbs into IoT smart lighting that provides additional controls like:

Custom lighting zones based on occupancy in an open office

Automatically adjust the lighting level based on the time of day, natural light, and desired ambiance

Trigger specific behaviors in retail stores with zoning and layers of light

Control lighting and more from a mobile device

Get alerts and updates if there’s movement, a drastic change in temperature, etc.

7. No Heat

80% of the energy used for incandescent bulbs is lost as heat, which is why they’re warm to the touch. Making them more dangerous to handle, especially if you have small children running around. LEDs are more efficient and are comfortable to the touch even after being on for hours.

8. Low Voltage

A low-voltage power supply is sufficient for LED bulbs and fixtures, making it easy to connect them with sensors, smart controls, external solar-energy sources, and any other IoT device. It’s also safer to install and use compared to other types of lighting and can be done without turning off your main power supply. Lastly, you don’t risk electrocution when they’re exposed to water.

9. Silence

Have you ever tried to focus in a quiet room only to be disturbed by a low buzzing sound? The sound is enough to drive anyone mad. Fluorescent lights are known for being noisy, especially when they’ve been on for a long time. LEDs operate silently without clicking or flickering noises, allowing you to focus on the peace and quiet.

10. Long-Term Costs and Savings

All of these benefits ultimately help your organization save money. Bulbs last longer since they use energy more efficiently and can be controlled to extend their lifetime, helping you save on energy and maintenance costs. When they do die, you don’t have to pay exorbitant fees to dispose of them properly. Perhaps the most significant benefit is that people will feel more comfortable in your space. This can make employees more efficient and make customers/clients happier, which translates to higher profits for you!

Maury Scruggs

Maury is the Director of LED Lighting at ASD®. He has 29 years of experience in Workplace Technology and LED Lighting. Maury joined the ASD® team in 2017 and is responsible for the integration of LED smart lighting offerings as they apply to our current workplace technologies space.

My friend recently got a warehouse for his business, but he’snot sure what kinds of lights he should have installed in it. It makes sense that LED lights would be beneficial for him! It’s so nice that they can be so energy efficient. That seems like a great way for him to save money in the long run.